Remembering Deveril, Beth had no doubt of that. “I have to go throughwith it.”
Blanche smiled her understanding.
“Blanche,” said Beth, “what was all that about with NicholasDelaney?”
Blanche looked over with heavily darkened lashes and brows which madeher look vulgar but very enticing. “I don’t know.”
“But did you really meet him with a whore?”
“Yes.” Blanche enlarged her lips with scarlet.
“He must have been married then.”
“I suppose so.”
“Am I giving in to vulgar curiosity?” Beth asked.
Blanche grinned. “Yes. Irresistible vice, isn’t it?”
Beth couldn’t resist a few more questions. “Just tell me, was Lucienthere, and why did you leave?”
Blanche considered her face and then skillfully applied a little morerouge. “No, Lucien wasn’t there. He was out of town. I thought it was justa social evening among the demimonde. It was a ballum runcum.”
“What on earth is that?”
“A naked ball,” said Blanche prosaically. “At least, the women arenaked. Most of the men keep their clothes on most of the time.”
Beth stared at Blanche, having difficulty even imagining such a thing.“You’re on Lucien’s side, aren’t you? You don’t think I should behere.”
Blanche turned to face her. “I think you have every right to make yourown choice, but if you enter this world, Beth, even for an evening, don’tthink it’s a game.”
Beth looked at herself in the mirror and thought back with disbelief tothe days when she’d fought battles as to whether to wear a cap or not. Butshe was going through with it. It would, she supposed, be a valuableextension of her education.
When she turned resolutely towards the door, Blanche said, “Good foryou.”
At the sight of her, Lucien briefly covered his eyes but then hegrabbed her and pulled her into his lap. “How much for an evening’stumble, Molly?” His eyes were laughing, not angry. When she pushed at him,he said, “Come on, I think you should get into your part.”
“Charge ‘im at least ten guineas, ducks,” said Blanche in a heavyaccent. Beth looked over at the White Dove and gasped. The actress hadobviously been easy on her.
The high dressed dark wig and vivid face-paint were vulgar but it wasBlanche’s gown which was outrageous. Stays pushed her full breasts upoutlandishly high and her bodice was all but transparent. Beneath it, hernipples were rouged scarlet. She looked nothing like the ethereal WhiteDove.
Hal Beaumont took a deep breath and stepped over to the actress. “Isthat your price too, you shameless hussy?”
Blanche placed a hand on her hip and somehow managed to thrust herbreasts a little higher. “I’ll give a discount to a wounded soldier,luv.”
“Done,” he said and grasped her chin to kiss her.
Beth hid her face in Lucien’s jacket. “Will it set a terrible precedentif I admit you have been right.”
He held her tight. “I promise not to crow. Do you want to go home?”
Beth got her courage back. “No. But if I cling to you, don’t blameme.”
Lucien, Nicholas, Miles, and Tom Holloway were all dressed in grimyfrieze and cheap finery, their faces dirtied. They’d greased their hair,too, and Lucien, who didn’t seem to lose his aristocratic elegance nomatter what they did, also wore a battered, low-brimmed hat to shade hisface.
They were all in fine fettle, bubbling with excitement. Overgrownschoolboys, Beth thought, but she couldn’t help catch their enthusiasm.Once out on the street she began to feel her part as if she was an actresswalking onto a stage. “I think this comes easier than playing themarchioness,” she said saucily to Lucien.
“Just remember this isn’t your true calling.”
